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Game 4 Loss Exposes Leafs Deficiencies; Fraser Suffers Cranial Fracture

May 9, 2013, 12:08 PM ET [1410 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The momentum shifts and roller coaster of emotions in Game 4 between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs created that stomach churning sensation that fans long for from playoff hockey, but as with the last overtime game at the Air Canada Center over nine years ago, a booming check from a Leaf player served as a precursor for the opposition’s game winner.

Just as Darcy Tucker’s crushing check on Philadelphia's Sami Kapanen came seconds before Jeremy Roenick’s series clinching overtime goal in 2004, Dion Phaneuf’s hit of Nathan Horton inside the Boston zone marked the beginning of the Leafs demise, as David Krejci counterattacked and scored his third goal at 13:06 of overtime to give the Bruins a 4-3 victory and a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Toronto played with energy and a sense of desperation early in the game and were rewarded with a 2-0 lead on goals from Joffrey Lupul and Cody Franson, but the composed and veteran Bruins charged back to tie and take the lead in the middle frame, taking advantage of abundant Leafs turnovers, the inability of their defense to clear the front of the net and goalie James Reimer to control rebounds. The Boston lead lasted exactly 44 seconds, as Clarke MacArthur tied the game.

Both teams had chances to retake the lead, Toronto with 53 second 5-on-3 power play at the end of the second/beginning of the third and Boston with a four minute man advantage due to Nazem Kadri’s double minor for high sticking. The Leafs played most of the third and all of overtime without defenseman Mark Fraser, as he was struck in the face by a Milan Lucic shot.

The Leafs were aggressive and had the best of the scoring chances in overtime, with their defense pinching in more frequently to keep the puck in the Bruins zone, but that tactic came back to bite them, as Phaneuf’s hit allowed Krejci and Lucic to break the other way with only Ryan O’Byrne back.

While there are positives to take from the Leafs making the playoffs and playing toe to toe with a vastly deeper and more experienced Boston club, the series has also illuminated Toronto’s shortcomings which will have to be addressed by GM Dave Nonis over the next few seasons if the club is to move forward from making to succeeding in the playoffs.

The Bruins are a vastly better club structurally, with great two way centers, power forwards like Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton, a veteran defensive corps anchored by Zdeno Chara and solid goaltending from Tuukka Rask.

The Leafs defense has Phaneuf playing top minutes at an almost Chara level, mostly because he is the best Toronto has and while the Leafs captain is a good defenseman, he is not anywhere close to being in the same league as Shea Weber, Ryan Suter or, Drew Doughty. Carlyle has been able to manage a hodge podge into an effective defensive corps during the regular season and the impressive post-season of Jake Gardiner is encouraging, but the current group will likely be more costly against the cap as Carl Gunnarsson, Cody Franson and Fraser are restricted free agents and veterans John-Michael Liles and Mike Komisarek appear to have more of a chance of being compliance buyouts than contributors.

The playoffs have not been a great selling point for Tyler Bozak, as he has scored only one assist in four games and has been outclassed by Krejci and Patrice Bergeron. Nazem Kadri has been a non-factor except for his pass to Kessel in Game 2 and in spite of stepping up his effort, Mikhail Grabovski has only one point and is -5 in the series.

Rask struggled at times in the first two games in Boston last week, but raised the level of his game in Toronto as he made 90 saves in Games 3 & 4. Reimer does not seem intimidated by his first NHL playoff appearance, but has allowed momentum crushing goals in Game 1 and Game 4 that top level NHL goalies just do not let in.

With the NHL switching to a divisional playoff format in 2013-14, the Bruins will continue to be the roadblock to whatever post-season aspirations the Leafs have in the immediate future. If they expect to get by the Black and Gold anytime soon, they will have to making astute trades and free agent signings to match their depth, size and talent.


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Per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Leafs defenseman Mark Fraser had surgery to repair a fracture to his forehead Wednesday evening.

Fraser suffered the injury during the third period of Game 4 after being struck with a shot from Boston's Milan Lucic.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet reports that the 26 year old defenseman is home, resting comfortably and communicating with teammates.

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle announced that John-Michael Liles will replace Fraser in the lineup for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Friday and the club has recalled blueliner Jesse Blacker from the Toronto Marlies.



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